Is Brutal Critical Damage doubled?

Is Brutal Critical Damage Doubled?

The age-old question that has plagued many a player of Dungeons & Dragons: does Brutal Critical damage get doubled? In this article, we’ll dive into the intricacies of critical hits and damage, and provide a definitive answer to this question.

Critical Hits and Damage

Before we dive into the specifics of Brutal Critical damage, let’s quickly review how critical hits and damage work in D&D. When a player rolls a 20 on an attack roll, they score a critical hit. A critical hit allows the player to add an additional die to the attack’s damage dice, which can result in a significant increase in damage output.

Brutal Critical

Brutal Critical is a feature that allows players to add an additional damage die to the attack’s damage dice when they score a critical hit. This feature is usually applied to melee attacks, and can result in a significant increase in damage output.

Does Brutal Critical Damage Get Doubled?

Now, to answer the question at hand: does Brutal Critical damage get doubled? The answer is no, Brutal Critical damage does not get doubled. When a player scores a critical hit and applies Brutal Critical, they add an additional damage die to the attack’s damage dice, but the damage output is not doubled.

Why Brutal Critical Damage Doesn’t Get Doubled

So, why doesn’t Brutal Critical damage get doubled? The reason is that the critical hit mechanic in D&D is designed to allow players to add an additional die to the attack’s damage dice, rather than doubling the damage output. This allows players to still deal significant damage, even if they don’t score a critical hit.

The Mechanics of Critical Hits

To understand why Brutal Critical damage doesn’t get doubled, it’s important to understand the mechanics of critical hits. When a player scores a critical hit, they add an additional die to the attack’s damage dice. This die is rolled separately from the rest of the damage dice, and the results are added to the total damage output.

Example

Let’s say a player rolls a 20 on an attack roll, scoring a critical hit. They are using a sword, which deals 1d8 + 2 force damage. With Brutal Critical, they add an additional 1d6 force damage to the attack’s damage dice. The total damage output would be:

• 1d8 + 2 = 5-9 damage (force damage)
• 1d6 = 1-6 damage (additional force damage)

The total damage output would be 6-15 force damage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Brutal Critical damage does not get doubled. Instead, it allows players to add an additional die to the attack’s damage dice when they score a critical hit. This feature can still result in significant damage output, even if the player doesn’t score a critical hit.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for making the most of Brutal Critical damage:

• Use a high-damage weapon: Using a high-damage weapon, such as a longsword or greataxe, can help you deal more damage even if you don’t score a critical hit.
• Choose the right damage type: Choosing the right damage type, such as force or piercing, can help you deal more damage to specific types of enemies.
• Use abilities that add damage: Using abilities that add damage to your attacks, such as Power Attack or Improved Critical, can help you deal more damage overall.
• Critique your opponents: Use your abilities to critique your opponents and limit their ability to deal damage to you.

References

• Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook: 5th edition. Wizards of the Coast. 2014.
• Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual: 5th edition. Wizards of the Coast. 2014.

Table: Brutal Critical Damage Output

Note: This table assumes a 1d8 + 2 force damage attack with Brutal Critical. The actual damage output may vary depending on the specific attack and the player’s abilities.